How to Do the 13 Wishes Ritual Over the Twelve Holy Nights
The 13 wishes ritual is done over the twelve nights between Christmas and January 6. Before it starts, you write 13 wishes on 13 slips of paper and fold them. Each night from December 25, you burn one without reading it and give that wish to the universe. On the last night, one slip is left. That wish is yours to make true.
Key takeaways
Write 13 wishes before December 25, one per slip, as if they are already true.
Burn one slip each night for 12 nights, without reading it.
The 13th wish is the one you take care of yourself.
It comes from the Rauhnächte, the twelve holy nights. Some start it at Yule instead.
What is the 13 wishes ritual?
The 13 wishes ritual is a way to send your wishes for the new year into the universe, one night at a time. It comes from the Rauhnächte, the twelve holy nights between Christmas and Epiphany in German-speaking countries. In old folk belief, these nights sat between the old year and the new one, a time when the veil felt thin and wishes carried far.
The ritual is simple. You write 13 wishes, burn 12 of them over the 12 nights without knowing which is which, and keep the last one. The 12 you burn are in the universe's hands. The 13th is yours: it is the wish you agree to work on yourself.
When does the 13 wishes ritual start?
Most people write their 13 wishes on December 24 or before, then burn the first one on the night of December 25. The last of the twelve is burned on the night of January 5, and the 13th slip is opened on January 6.
Some start a few days earlier, on the winter solstice (December 21, or Yule), and count twelve nights from there. Both ways are fine. What matters is that you pick one start date and burn one slip each night until the end.
How to do the 13 wishes ritual, step by step
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Write 13 wishes
Before December 25, write 13 wishes for the new year, one on each small slip of paper. Write them as already true: "I am," "I have," "I live."
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Fold them and mix them up
Fold every slip the same way so you can't tell them apart. Put them all in a bowl or a small box.
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Burn one each night
Each night from December 25, take out one slip without reading it and burn it in a fireproof bowl. As it burns, say thank you and let it go.
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Keep going for 12 nights
Burn one slip every night until January 5. If you miss a night, burn two the next night.
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Open the last one
On January 6, one slip is left. Read it. That is the wish you will make true yourself this year.
Examples of wishes to write
Love & Relationships
“I am in a relationship that feels like home.”
“I am loved for exactly who I am.”
“My friendships are warm and easy.”
Money & Abundance
“I have more than enough this year.”
“Money comes to me from surprising places.”
“I live with ease and plenty.”
Career & Purpose
“I do work I love, and it shows.”
“I am proud of what I create this year.”
“The right chances find me.”
Health & Wellness
“I feel strong and rested.”
“I take good care of myself every day.”
“I feel calm in my body and my mind.”
How to write your 13 wishes
Write each wish as if it already came true. "I am," "I have" and "I live" work better than "I want," because wanting is the feeling of not having yet. Keep each one short and clear, and only write wishes that make you feel good when you read them.
Mix the areas of your life: love, home, work, money, friends, rest. And make every wish about you, not about changing someone else. Holding good wishes for the people you love is lovely, but this ritual is about your own year.
Each night stands for a month
An old belief says each of the twelve nights stands for one month of the coming year. The first night is January, the second is February, and so on. Some people keep a small notebook during the nights and write down their dreams or how they feel, as a little preview of the month that night stands for.
You don't need to do this for the ritual to work. But it is a sweet way to pay attention, and it makes the nights feel special.
How to burn your wishes safely
Use a fireproof bowl, a sink or a fireplace, and keep water close. Burn one slip at a time, away from curtains and anything that can catch. If you can't burn paper where you live, tear the slip into small pieces and give it to running water or to the earth. The letting go is what matters, not the flame.
What to do with your 13th wish
The 13th wish is the one you said yes to. Put it where you will see it: on your fridge, in your journal or on your lock screen. Take one small step for it each week, and feel it as already yours each time you see it. If you want more for the night itself, these New Year's Eve rituals pair well with the twelve nights. And Amplify can keep sending your wish all year, even while you sleep.
Tips for the 13 wishes ritual
Make the writing night special
Light a candle, put on soft music, make a warm drink. The feeling you have while writing goes into the wishes.
Don't peek
Not knowing which wish you burned is the point. It is how you hand it over.
Fire can carry a wish all year
If you love this ritual, the bay leaf ritual works the same way any month: write a wish on a leaf and burn it.
Close the old year first
On December 12, the 12:12 portal is a lovely day to thank the year and let go, so your 13 wishes start fresh.
Keep your wishes in sight
Put a few of your wishes on your lock screen so you send them every day of the new year.
13 wishes ritual: frequently asked questions
It is a ritual for the twelve holy nights between Christmas and January 6. You write 13 wishes on slips of paper, burn one each night without reading it, and keep the last one. The 12 burned wishes go to the universe. The 13th is the one you make true yourself.
